Duran Duran - Girls on Film 1979 Demo

by Kevin Wierzbicki

.Unless you are a scholarly fan of Duran Duran you probably are not aware that the band had a singer (a couple, actually) before Simon LeBon came along and crooned the band to worldwide fame. This EP presents four songs in demo form with early front man Andy Wickett on vocals, with the band rounded out by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor. As the effort's title indicates, found within is a version of what would eventually become one of Duran Duran's big hits and signature tunes, "Girls on Film." Wickett has a voice that is not unlike that of Bryan Ferry, and as a result the "Girls on Film" demo sounds like the way it might have sounded if performed by Roxy Music in their formative days. Also included is "See Me, Repeat Me," which the band would use as a building block for "Rio." As the demo is though, with different lyrics and a different musical vibe, "See Me, Repeat Me" holds little resemblance to "Rio" as fans know it. The other cuts on Girls on Film 1979 Demo are the forgettable "Working the Steel" and "Reincarnation," which hints at what the Duran Duran sound would evolve to in a couple years. While not being essential listening, Girls on Film 1979 Demo is a nice historical document that many Duran Duran fans will want to own.